Hampton boys, Unaka girls claim runner-up spots in District 1 Small School golf
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, September 25, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Hampton boys were the District 1A Small School runner-up behind University High as the team qualifies for next week's regional also at Elizabethton Golf Course. Pictured (L-R) head coach Wayne Ellis, Izaak Hill, Mitchell Tolley, Josh Owens, Avery Hill, and RJ Tolley.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Unaka Lady Rangers were the runner up in the District 1 Small School golf tournament played at Elizabethton Golf Course on Monday. Pictured are (L-R) Sadie Shoun, Zoie Grindstaff, Macy Ensor, and head coach Aaron Dugger.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The top five medalist in Monday's District 1 Small Schools girls golf tournament played at Elizabethton Golf Course include (L-R) Kairus Tallman (1st) Chuckey Doak, Madison Painter (2nd) Chuckey Doak, Sadie Shoun (3rd) Unaka, Zoie Grindstaff (4th) Unaka, and Jayln Hill (5th) Hampton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton senior Mitchell Tolley sends a putt toward the hole. Tolley finished fourth individually and helped his team to a runner-up finish in the District 1 Small School tournament at Elizabethton Golf Course.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
In a good show of sportsmanship, the foursome that included Hampton's Izaak Hill shares a handshake after a great round of golf on a beautiful day.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Izaak Hill has a good read on a putt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Unaka's Sadie Shoun watches as her putt rolls toward the cup in the District 1 Small School golf tournament played at Elizabethton Golf Course. Shoun finished third overall in girls play.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton Lady Bulldog Jayln Hill chips her shot toward the green. Hill finished fifth overall in girls' play.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Unaka's Macy Ensor hits her tee shot during the District 1 Small School golf tounament on Monday at Elizabethton Golf Course.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Zoie Grindstaff sends her putt to the bottom of the cup.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Avery Hill does some maintenance around the cup before attempting a putt in action Monday from Elizabethton Golf Course.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Avery Hill chips toward the green from a small gulley and made a PGA-type shot landing this chip within eight feet of the cup.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's RJ Tolley prepares to hit an iron shot in Monday's District 1 Small School golf tournament.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
RJ Tolley of Hampton blast off a tee shot on Monday at Elizabethton Golf Course.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Josh Owens of Hampton sends a putt toward the cup.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
There couldn’t have been a better day for the District 1 Small Schools golf tournament played at Elizabethton Golf Course as fall-like conditions greeted the golfers who took to the links looking for seeding heading into next week’s regional tournament also slated for Elizabethton Golf Course.
In girls’ action, the Lady Black Knights of Chuckey Doak took first place in team competition by firing a two-player team total of 197. Kairus Tallman of Chuckey Doak took top medalist honors as well as she carded an 18-hole total of 94.
Teammate Madison Painter finished in second place by finishing her round with a 103 for the day.
The Unaka Lady Rangers made a great showing after not placing last year as the ladies from Stoney Creek claimed second place by recording a team total of 223, 26 shots behind Chuckey Doak.
Sadie Shoun paced the Lady Rangers by capturing third individually with a 105 for 18 holes. Zoie Grindstaff also claimed medalist status finishing in fourth place with a 118 for her day.
“I hadn’t played the back nine in a while so I knew I was going to be a little rusty,” said Shoun on her round. “On the front nine, I knew that I was going to be okay.”
One of the issues that all golfers faced was blowing leaves and Shoun said that played a little into the round for everyone.
“You had to move them on every hole,” Shoun said. “If you got in a rough it was also a lot tougher than usual.”
Shoun was excited about her team’s finish.
“Last year we didn’t place at all so this year was a big step. I have to make sure to hit the fairways and read my putts right to do well in the regionals.”
Macy Ensor wrapped up the day for the Lady Rangers as Ensor shot a 144 on the course.
The Lady Bulldogs of Hampton finished third in team play by recording a 248 for their round.
Jayln Hill claimed fifth place individually with her 120 on the day while Ashley Woodby was eight strokes behind her teammate with a 128.
University School only had one player in girls play as Quinn Scheller holed out with a 121.
On the boy’s ledger, University School collected their third straight title in boy’s play with a four-player team total of 323 paced by top medalist Lucas Lowe who fired a 40 on the front and a 39 on the back to finish his 18 holes of play with a 79.
Teammates Garrett Gentry and Matthew Carter had to go to a two-hole playoff to determine second and third place with Gentry chipping in his shot on the second hole to take second place with Carter coming in third with both finishing their 18-hole round tied at 80.
Daxx Carr (84) and Ayden Connell (88) closed out the scoring for University School.
The Hampton Bulldogs claimed second by firing a 343, 20 shots off University School’s total. Senior Mitchell Tolley led Hampton by firing a 43 on the front nine and followed that up with a 40 on the back nine to finish with an 83 overall.
“The course was playing a little harder today. I came out and I wasn’t really hitting the ball the way I wanted to on the front nine but on the back nine I just settled down and started hitting the ball really good,” said Tolley.
“At first it was pretty wet and the wind was a little bad but the back nine played really solid. None of us played the way we really wanted to – we have been playing a lot better. We are going to keep practicing hard and focus on Monday.”
As seniors, Tolley said there was a goal that both he and Izaak Hill were shooting for.
“Me and Izaak would love to reach the state championships. I feel like if I can come out and shoot a 75 that I would have a good chance.”
Avery Hill was the surprise of the day for Coach Wayne Ellis’ squad as Hill ended up with an 84 that included a 45 on the front and a 39 on the back nine for a fifth-place finish.
Izaak Hill started off the day great on the front nine with a 39 but struggled a bit on the back nine finishing with a 46 for an 18-hole round of 85. Josh Owens (90) and RJ Tolley (105) closed out the scoring for the Bulldogs leading up to their runner-up finish.
The Longhorns of Johnson County finished third with a 421. Petie Pavusek led the way for the Longhorns with a 95 while Peyton Pavusek was six strokes off at 101.
Jackson Mays (103), Dakota Holt (122), and Graham Reece (122) rounded out the scoring for Johnson County.
Chuckey Doak had two golfers participate as Jordan Pruitt finished with a 90 and Ethan Smith carded out with a 112. For Sullivan North, Jacob Cross led the Golden Raiders with an 18-hole total of 91 while Dale Potter finished with a 129.
The good news is all golfers that played will be eligible to play in next week’s regional tournament which will be played on Monday.
